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Silver staining DNA in polyacrylamide gels

Nature Protocols volume 2, pages 2649–2654 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

This protocol describes a simple silver staining method used to visualize DNA fragments and other organic molecules with unsurpassed detail following traditional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Sensitivity rivals radioisotopic methods and DNA in the picogram range can be reliably detected. The described protocol is fast (∼1 h) and is implemented using readily available chemicals and materials. To achieve the sensitivity and visual clarity expected, quality reagents and clean handling are important. The updated protocol described here is based on the widely used method of Bassam et al. (1991), but provides improved image contrast and less risk of staining artefacts.

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Figure 1: I DNA silver staining of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis separated arbitrary primed DNA amplification products: The figure shows each of the six treatments in order (a–f), as described in Table 2.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence grant scheme (CEO348212) and associated support for the Queensland State Government, the UQ Strategic Fund and present and past members of the laboratory. Ms. Johanna Hadler and Dr. Paul Scott (both CILR Brisbane) are thanked for beta-testing the new procedure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Corbett Life Science, Brisbane Technology Park, 42 McKechnie Drive, Eight Mile Plains, 4113, Queensland, Australia

    Brant J Bassam

  2. ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072, Queensland, Australia

    Peter M Gresshoff

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  1. Brant J Bassam
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  2. Peter M Gresshoff
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Correspondence to Peter M Gresshoff.

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Bassam, B., Gresshoff, P. Silver staining DNA in polyacrylamide gels. Nat Protoc 2, 2649–2654 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2007.330

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